Release Date:

February 1, 1941

Main Character(s):

Sniffles

Summary:

After Sniffles and his friends are chased into their hole by the house cat, Sniffles suggests to himself that the cat should have a bell put on him so they’ll know when he approaches. The only problem is that Sniffles himself is sent to do it.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “Three Blind Mice” played over the opening credits:

Supervision: Charles M. Jones

Story: Rich Hogan

Animation: Ken Harris

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

This is the first Warner cartoon to use the “shell game” gag (where a character hides in one of three identical objects).

The cartoon pokes fun at the fable of belling the cat.

What I Like About This One:

The frantic rendition of “Three Blind Mice” at the start of the cartoon as Sniffles and his friends run away from the cat (I wonder if this was a continuation from the rendition that played under the credits).

Sniffles starting to suggest his idea, only to see two of his friends holding a bell in front of him with the third one having the door open. Shocked, Sniffles asks, “MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?” to which his friends tell him in unison, “You suggested it”. Sniffles then attempts to get out of it by saying it’s not really a good idea but his friends think it’s a wonderful idea.

Sniffles still ranting on how he won’t bell the cat while he is being pushed out the door. Realizing he’s outside, he bangs on the door, demanding to be let back in.

After one of his friends reassures him they’ll let him back in after he bells the cat, Sniffles starts to walk away talking to himself that if that’s all he has to do, that’s different before becoming more and more nervous.

After hours pass, Sniffles practices on how he’s going to get the cat to put the bell on. When he thinks of something else to say, he sees the cat watching him (animated by Ken Harris).

Sniffles running away from the cat only to stop for a rest on the cat’s face.

Sniffles hiding in one of three small cups to which the cat plays the “shell game” with. When he fails to find Sniffles in the one he’s hiding in, Sniffles sneaks off, only to be spotted by the cat and chased (animated by Robert McKimson).

During the chase, Sniffles knocks into the bell, which flies up into the air and lands on the cat’s neck.

Sniffles’ friends congratulating him and asking him how he got the cat to put the bell on his neck. He crosses his fingers behind his back and fibs that he simply walked up to him and demanded that he put the bell on before he got mad (animated by Robert Cannon).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕 ½